News from September 2018
14-state coalition argues consumer board should continue to enforce Equal Credit Opportunity Act
SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is the latest to join a 14-state coalition expressing concern with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) re-examining its enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) which is designed to stop creditors from discriminating based on race, national origin, sex, marital status, age and other characteristics.
Plains All American Pipeline guilty of felony, misdemeanor charges relating to Pacific oil spill
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A jury has found an oil pipeline company guilty of a felony and eight misdemeanor charges for its failure to properly maintain its highly pressurized pipeline that caused crude oil to discharge into the Pacific Ocean.
Arizona attorney general: Purdue Pharma violated consent order regarding deceptive opioid marketing
TUCSON — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has filed legal action against OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma, alleging the company violated a 2017 consent order prohibiting the use of deceptive opioid marketing.
SEC: Retail investors suffered losses from New York advisers' advice
WASHINGTON, D. C. – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says retail investors who suffered losses after a Syracuse, New York, broker/dealer and investment advisers steered them toward a leveraged oil-linked exchange-traded note (ETN) without a reasonable basis, will be fully reimbursed.
Otis Elevator agrees to $13.9 million settlement with SEC
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Connecticut company has agreed to a $13.9 million settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over charges the company made illicit payments relating to its elevator and aircraft engine businesses.
FTC: Mobile phone manufacturer deceived customers over disclosure of data security
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission has reached a final settlement with a mobile phone manufacturer to resolve the agency's charges that the company deceived customers about data security practices and disclosure of their personal information.
California local government, agencies eligible for $28.5 million to reduce illegal tobacco sales
SACRAMENTO — California's local governments and agencies can apply for the state's Department of Justice Tobacco Grant Program, which will distribute $28.5 million to recipients to help reduce illegal sales of tobacco products, especially to minors, according to the state attorney general.
EEOC alleges 2 Foodtown female employees were solicited for sex by supervisor, fired for resisting
NEW YORK — The federal government is suing a New York supermarket on behalf of two female employees whose allege their supervisor solicited them for sex and then fired them for resisting his sexual harassment.
EEOC: Worker fired after requesting medical leave to treat prostate cancer
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia against a national provider of indirect industrial supplies, alleging an employee was fired after requesting medical leave for prostate cancer treatment.
EEOC alleges Golden Corral franchisee fired server for having epilepsy
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The federal government has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, alleging a Golden Corral restaurant franchisee in Augusta fired a server for not being able to control her epilepsy.
EEOC alleges Miami companies fired employee who lost one eye outside of work
MIAMI — A federal agency alleges two Miami sheet metal fabrication and installation companies fired an employee because he lost one eye due to an out-of-work injury.
EEOC: Pennsylvania supply distributor paid female employees less than male coworkers
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The federal government is accusing a Pennsylvania international industrial and construction supply of paying female sales support employees less than their male coworkers for doing the same work.
Washington state court doubles contempt charges for political activist
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A Thurston County Superior Court in Washington state has doubled the daily contempt sanctions against political activist Tim Eyman in the state's campaign finance lawsuit against him.
Washington attorney general alleges towing company illegally sold deployed Navy member's car
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington state attorney general is suing a state towing company, alleging it auctioned off a Navy sailor's car while he was deployed without first obtaining a court order.
Software developer settles charges it exposed personal information data
NEWARK — The state of New Jersey has reached a settlement agreement with a data management software developer to resolve charges that the company allowed unauthorized public Internet access to a database of more than 100 auto dealerships customers' and employees' personal information.
Massachusetts negotiates deal with Columbia Gas to reduce $11 million in proposed rates
BOSTON — The state of Massachusetts has negotiated an agreement with Bay State Gas Company, doing business as Columbia Gas, to reduce more than $11 million in proposed rates for customers and prevents the company from further rate increases during the next three years.
Maryland Consumer Protection Division accuses pharmaceutical manufacturer of inducing prescribers
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division has filed charges against a pharmaceutical manufacturer for allegedly distributing opioids to "off label" patients and inducing prescribers with monetary incentives.
Illinois attorney general urges public utilities to make costs of enrolling clearer to customers
CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is urging the state's public utilities to include information on customer's bills regarding the costs of enrolling with alternative retail electric suppliers (ARES), which she says often engaged in bait and switch marketing tactics to entice customers.
Outside counsel to aid Georgia's litigation, investigation of state opioid sales, distribution
ATLANTA — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has chosen a legal team of outside counsel to assist the state's investigation and litigation relating to prescription opioid manufacturing, marketing, sale and distribution in Georgia.